Ivanov gave no reply after hearing my refusal.
“Kremlin’s master will never allow a threatening number two. dvedev has no faction following him at all. Only the President’s trust is the pillar that holds up his power. But if you beco the number two, the situation changes. When you give an order, will the siloviki follow the President’s commands, or will they prioritize your intentions?”
“.......”
“The President’s political thod is to use the siloviki and the oligarchs to keep each other in check. If either side grows too strong, they will one day be purged. Knowing this, do you still wish to beco the number two?”
No dictator ever strengthens just one faction.
Instead, they create disorder. That was how dictators maintained power.
“If you help , the President would have no reason to waste effort trying to keep us in check, wouldn’t he?”
No—what kind of delusion is that?
He seed to think I was soone who manipulated the President from behind.
“I don’t know what you an. My situation is the sa as yours. I beca friends with him because I invested before he seized power. That’s all. I’m no different from any of you. And above all, I’m a foreigner. He knows I would never challenge his power—that’s the only reason our relationship works. If I were Russian... it would’ve been difficult to get even this close. I have no reason whatsoever to throw away that advantage just to support you.”
If I ever challenged his authority, he was soone who would discard even without hesitation.
Of course, I wouldn’t back down easily either... but the more I escalated, the more disadvantageous it would be.
A considerable portion of my wealth had already entered Russia. More was going in.
I had no intention of taking pointless risks.
My actions were already becoming bolder because the future had changed; I had no desire to change Russia’s future as well.
“There is no value in abandoning my relationship with dvedev to choose you instead. That is my answer.”
“You will regret it. You will regret not taking the hand I extended.”
When I refused once more, Ivanov spoke stiffly.
“Is that a threat?”
“Well... whether it is or isn’t, ti will tell. Of course, we will not hold back support for this operation. Recovering the nuclear assets in North Korea is more important to us than interfering with President Kim Muhyuk’s work.”
With that final statent of support, Ivanov rose from his seat.
“As long as you back dvedev, you and we cannot maintain a good relationship. Think it over once more.”
Ivanov and Lebedev left the eting room. I felt no need to see them off.
“Will this be all right? You may end up completely at odds with the siloviki. Couldn’t this disrupt your business in Russia?”
Ma sighed anxiously.
Without taking my eyes off the door they exited through, I replied.
“It doesn’t matter. If I take their hand, I must abandon dvedev. And abandoning dvedev, when we already have established ties, would be stupid.”
“But boss, they are Russia’s mainstream.”
“I know. That’s exactly why I won’t join hands with them. If I align with the mainstream, then the monster in the Kremlin will begin to keep in check. He’ll suspect that the person I side with could beco the king. Just like he sees himself as Russia’s tsar.”
Even if dvedev wouldn’t suspect , Ivanov certainly might.
It was obvious that word of our eting would already have reached his ears.
Once suspicion forms, it doesn’t disappear easily.
You either wipe it out completely, or you remain under suspicion forever. One of the two.
“For now, the fact that they won’t interfere with this operation is enough. As long as this mission succeeds, even if the siloviki try to get in the way afterward, continuing business won’t be a problem.”
Could they even stop it? Sothing that was practically the President’s cherished national project?
Images of the transcontinental railway and the pipeline construction floated through my mind.
For Russia’s national interest, they couldn’t stop those even if they wanted to.
“Call Igor in.”
“Yes.”
Ma left, and I slowly organized my thoughts.
Ivanov—practically the head of the siloviki—had suddenly co asking to support him.
And he hadn’t bothered to conceal his greed.
I couldn’t believe every word of his, but I had at least glimpsed a part of the picture he envisioned.
Perhaps he dreams of becoming the next President after the current term ends.
But I know the truth.
The brown bear crouched inside the Kremlin had already decided how to maintain long-term rule.
That was why he was supporting dvedev.
He was grooming dvedev to temporarily hold the presidency in his stead.
A man with no faction of his own—a perfect puppet.
And the plan would likely be revealed after next year’s re-election.
As I was sorting through my thoughts, soone knocked on the door, and Igor and Ma ca in.
“Co in. Have a seat.”
Skipping pleasantries, I went straight to the point.
Igor still looked tense, likely because of the Russian troops that had appeared earlier.
I smiled to loosen the atmosphere.
“There will be no Russian military interference this ti.”
“Did the SVR Director promise that himself?”
“No. The Minister of Defense did. The SVR Director seems to be his man. I think they were testing .”
“If the Minister of Defense said so, then it shouldn’t be a big problem.”
“Right. They’ll send a # Nоvеlight # new commander to lead the Zaslon unit. They promised to follow your instructions fully, so there shouldn’t be any major issues. Still, don’t let your guard down, and if you can win him over, make him your man.”
Igor’s stiff shoulders relaxed slightly.
“Yes, understood.”
“I’ll be leaving here in a few days. When all preparations are complete and we have the operation date, I’ll return. I’ll be staying at the camp then. I can’t go with you, though.”
“Will the operation begin within the year?”
“Probably. The longer we wait, the more unpredictable Kim Jongil becos. Right now North Korea is issuing unusually aggressive statents about border closures. He wouldn’t have dared to speak like this before—but now he’s openly sharpening blades against China. At this point, nothing would be surprising.”
Even before sanctions passed, China had sealed the border entirely and blocked all supplies going into North Korea.
Pyongyang reacted violently.
They went on state television calling China shaless collaborators with the U.S., Arican lackeys—phrases they would never normally use.
The more cornered Kim Jongil beca, the higher the tension on the peninsula.
We had to capture Kim Jongil as soon as possible and back Jang Songthaek to seize power.
“So train them hard. Even the smallest mistake increases the chance of failure. Make them move like machines—exactly according to the operation plan. Request anything you need from the Russian side.”
“I will.”
“Good. I trust you, Igor. By the way, it seems your na carries more weight in the Russian military than I thought. Even the Minister of Defense knew you.”
I teased lightly. Igor lowered his head, embarrassed—unusual for him.
“Those are all things of the past. I’ve forgotten them.”
“They seed sorry they couldn’t take care of you back then. If they ever call you back, what will you do?”
“I am now a rcenary. As a rcenary belonging to Black Bear, I pledge loyalty to you. That is my loyalty.”
Hearing Igor’s steadfast answer naturally brought a smile to my lips.
“Good. There will be a big reward after this mission. Do your best. All right, you can go now—I’ve taken too much of your ti.”
After sending Igor out, I stood up and smiled at Ma.
“Ma, let’s move as well. Ti to return to Korea.”
* * *
I stayed in Russia for a few more days, completing the remaining schedule, and finally headed to the airport to return ho.
— President Kim, are you leaving now?
dvedev contacted after hearing news of my departure.
“Yes. It’s ti to return to Korea. I’ll co back again soon. Next ti, I’ll probably go straight to Vladivostok without stopping by Moscow, though.”
— Ah, I see. Then I’ll see you next ti. And... you spoke well with the Minister of Defense, yes? The President ordered that full support be provided.
He spoke as if it were his idea... but of course it had been the President’s instruction.
“Yes. He said they won’t spare any support for this operation.”
While sorting out the events in Russia, I remained on the phone with dvedev for quite a while.
Before I knew it, it was almost ti to reach the airport.
I hesitated for a mont, then trailed off as I cut in.
“But...”
I opened my mouth, but I hesitated.
Should I say it or not?
But trust built at monts like these always returned twofold later.
“He asked to support him.”
— ...Support him? That man said that?
“Yes. He said he would suppress the siloviki’s dissatisfaction, so I should help him beco the number two. As if I have the kind of power to—”
Even though I joked deliberately, dvedev gave no response.
He was probably calculating what would happen if the siloviki and I joined hands.
But soon he collected himself and asked:
— And what was President Kim’s answer?
“I refused. I have no reason to join hands with them.”
— If there were value in doing so...
“No. Once I take soone’s hand, I don’t let go first. Even if I suffer loss. That is how I do business—that is my weapon. Once I trust soone, I trust them to the end. Of course, if that trust is broken... I destroy them completely.”
On the other end of the line, dvedev let out a faint exclamation.
“Chief of Staff, saying you want to be number two ans challenging your power. Can you win against the siloviki in a power struggle?”
With a confident voice, dvedev replied:
— Even if I have no faction, I am not weak enough to be pushed aside by the siloviki. You know this. In the Kremlin, his trust is power.
dvedev said the President’s trust was equivalent to power itself.
And he clearly understood that trust was on his side.
“That’s good to hear. Still, never stop keeping him in check. If he sees even the slightest opening, he’ll stab you. And joining hands with the oligarchs wouldn’t be a bad tactic.”
— Oligarchs... I’m not sure he’d be pleased if I began building a power base.
He fully understood why the President invested strength into him.
“I’m not saying to build a faction. Just... use them to keep the siloviki in check.”
— Thank you for the advice. I’ll think about it.
“Sure. I’ll end the call now. I’m arriving at the airport.”
The call with dvedev ended.
And at the sa ti, I arrived at the airport.
After a long flight, I finally landed at Incheon Airport.
“Whew... Korea really is the best.”
Breathing in Korean air as I stepped off the plane lifted my mood for no reason.
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